Families in Transition

As many of you know I have a heart for our students and missionary families.  I love to encourage them on in life.  One of the biggest things that affect our families and especially their children is dealing with all of the transitions that they face in their lives.  We are training families to work overseas and although it might seem exciting to be a Third Culture Kid there are many challenges that our children face as they move back and forth all over North America and then overseas.  A couple of days ago Vern and I had the privilege to spend time with 8 pretty cool kids.  They are all facing another transition ahead with another major move for their family.  Vern and I were able to talk about transitions as we related it to what we call the "Transitional Bridge".  We went through the phases of transition from being: "Settled, Unsettled, In the Chaos stage, then to Resettled, and Settled again.  These families are presently in the Unsettled and Chaotic Stage.  We discussed the emotions that these children are going through and ways to help.  I had the children write out a list of 10 things they enjoy doing.  It is helpful for children and adults to have a list like that and in the middle of transitions when they are feeling overwhelmed they can pull out that list of things they enjoy doing and pick something on their list.  It it a great stress reliever and can help them to deal with all the new things they are facing to do something they enjoy doing.  The children had a chance to walk across our "bridge".  They walked across it and it was pretty easy, then they put on foggy glasses that blurred their vision and the only way you could make it across the bridge is with friends and family walking along side of them.  And so it is in life as we go through hard situations we need our family and friends coming along side of us encouraging us on and praying for us.  (I had each family worked on making their own bridge.)  As you think of these eight children who have already moved many times, please pray for them as they once again transition.  For six of the children they will be making yet another major move overseas in five months. So there are even more transitions ahead.  If you have a relationship with a missionary family or M.K. why not drop them a note or do something special for them today.  Let them know that there is someone cheering them on in life!